The 2025 MAMA Awards return this weekend with a record-breaking venue and a star-studded performer roster. Taking place across two nights, November 28 and 29, at the brand-new Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, the ceremony promises a global celebration of K-pop, artistry, and fan culture. As one of the most influential music events in Asia, the MAMA Awards continue to honor excellence across performance, production, and innovation, carrying forward a 27-year legacy. This year’s theme, “Hear My Roar: uh-heung,” reflects a focus on excitement, emotional expression, and the powerful energy that drives the K-pop industry.
Nominees
The nominees for the 2025 MAMA Awards were revealed on October 16, and two acts immediately rose to the top of the conversation. Aespa and Jennie lead the field with nine nominations each, dominating the biggest categories of the night. Aespa—made up of Karina, Winter, Ningning, and Giselle—earned major nods for Album of the Year with Whiplash, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year. Karina also secured an additional solo nomination in Song of the Year for her hit single “Up.”
Jennie matches the group’s total with nine nominations, marking a milestone moment in her solo career. Her debut album Ruby generated three Song of the Year nods with “Like JENNIE,” “Zen,” and “ExtraL.” Her nominations also include Best Female Artist and Artist of the Year.
BLACKPINK’s influence extends beyond Jennie. ROSÉ earned six nominations, including standout mentions for “APT.” and “Toxic Till the End” in the Song of the Year category. JISOO follows with four nominations of her own, while BLACKPINK as a group collected four more, including a Song of the Year nomination for their comeback single “Jump.”
Members of BTS continue to shape the awards landscape through their solo work. Jin, J-Hope, and V each earned multiple nominations. Eligible music for this year’s awards includes releases from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, with winners determined by expert evaluations, sales metrics, and fan participation. Fan voting remains essential for “Fans’ Choice” categories through Mnet Plus and X, supported by the newly introduced SUPER FAN initiative that allowed fans to help shape pre-nomination discussions.
Performers
The 2025 MAMA Awards feature one of the largest and most diverse performance lineups to date. While the planned red-carpet performances from Izna, KickFlip, Hearts2Hearts, and TWS were canceled following the tragic Tai Po apartment fire, and Hong Kong boy group MIRROR withdrew out of respect, the main ceremony will still deliver two nights of high-profile acts.
Day 1 (November 28) includes performances from ALPHA DRIVE ONE, BABYMONSTER, BOYNEXTDOOR, BUMSUP, ENHYPEN, (G)I-DLE, IVE, MEOVV, NCT WISH, SUPER JUNIOR, and TREASURE.
Day 2 (November 29) brings another strong lineup with aespa, ALL DAY PROJECT, CORTIS, G-DRAGON, IDID, JO1, KYOKA, RIIZE, Stray Kids, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and ZEROBASEONE.
Presenters
The awards will be led by two distinguished hosts. Park Bo-gum will helm the first night, while acclaimed actress Kim Hye-soo will host the second. Additional presenters include Go Youn-jung, Noh Sang-hyun, Roh Yoon-seo, Park Hyung-sik, Shin Seung-hun, Shin Ye-eun, Hyun Ji Shin, Ahn Eun-jin, Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Kwang-soo, Lee Do-hyun, Lee Soo-hyuk, Lee Jun-young, Im Si-wan, Jang Do-yeon, Jeon Yeo-been, Jo Yuri, Cho Han-gyeol, Ju Ji-hoon, Cha Joo-young, Choi Dae-hoon, and Lee Hye-ri.
How to Watch
The 2025 MAMA Awards will air live on November 28 and 29 from the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium, marking the show’s largest audience to date. Broadcasts will be available on Mnet, TVING, and—for the first time—HBO Max, expanding global access and offering fans around the world a premium live-streaming experience.
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